ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

April Cope

Singer/songwriter April Cope is currently working on her third release scheduled to hit the stores this summer, featuring rich new material steeped in heartbreak, resurection and redemption. This new recording is underway at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco and features the likes of Chuck Prophet, Pete Sears, Jim Camplilongo, Michael Manring and Eric McFadden. Last year, she finished recording her second CD Distorted Mirrors with producer Gordon Brislawn at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco and performs with her band which includes stellar musicians Jeff Cleland (bass), Jon Preuss (guitar) and Any Bacon (drums). Distorted Mirrors explores wildly different territory than her 1997 debut CD Two Moons, produced by Darol Anger. This new work remains faithful to her Appalachian instincts, yet nestles her songs into more contemporary arrangements and rhythms, creating a genuine yet freshly modern sound. Distorted Mirrors is distributed by Burnside Distribution. She will be included in a national college tour promoted by Though the Vine, beginning at the USC campus auditorium on April 25th.

Following the release of Two Moons, April was featured on Anger's Heritage album tour, performing Mary Chapin Carpenter's parts, singing duets with Tim O'Brien and playing alongside David Grisman. April has recently showcased at the NEA Conference, the Folk Alliance, EAT'M (Emerging Artists and Talent in Music) and the AFIM Conference (Association for Independent Music), with musicians including Michael Manring, Scott Nygaard and Joe Craven. Tracks from Two Moons have been featured on a CD Now compilation and have received national radio airplay. April has performed at many festivals including the Strawberry Music Festival, (joined by John Cowan, Nina Gerber and Darol Anger), the High Sierra Festival and the Merl Watson Festival as well as local Bay Area venues including the Great American Music Hall, the Freight and Salvage, Slims, Bottom of the Hill, the Sweetwater, the Justice League and the Last Day Saloon. April was recently featured on Ron Kavana's 1999 release Alien Alert and Bay Area tour, Chad Clouse's In the Midst, Michael Ward's Later for the Train, Steve Owen's Atheist in Nashville and Ted Ekman's Hearts Fail, Paige Jackson's Double Wide, and Patrick Conway's The Rocking Stone. April and her band have been featured on the AT&T cable TV music series "Roadkill" alongside Tony Furtado as well as the Bruce Lattimer Show with Eric McFadden.
After growing up in Western North Carolina, April moved to the Bay Area to study music and creative writing at Mills College. She joined forces early on with hammered dulcimer virtuoso Tony Elman, singing and playing mandolin in their folk duo. April's music has since evolved into her own distinctive sound. Her music has been described as "magic country realism" and "Industrial Appalachian". As a singer, April has been compared to Emmylou Harris, Sherryl Crow and Fiona Apple. Her songs express a rustic and rootsy authenticity while they explore hip, adventurous elements. In her band she plays acoustic and electric mandolin, mandocello and guitar. April is a songwriter who is not afraid to be real and a singer who awakens passion.

"I love the mystery in April's music. It's like standing between two mirrors and getting lost in there. Don't tell me what it's about, just let me listen again."
-Tim O'Brien
"April's songs speak in innocence and road-worthy wisdom. It's as if I'm on a slow boat to China and she's the captain."
-Joe Craven
"Her glorious voice and deep passion make April a joy to hear...mountain dew and urban angst all at once."
-Faith Winthrop

"April's Talent is so immense, it's scary to think where she will be in five years."
-Darol Anger

"April is an artist who we believe is bound for stardom. Listen to her with your body and soul"
-Tony Elman

Wow! I bought this after hearing a couple of tracks on Pandora, and I wasn't dissapointed in what I heard, such a collection of powerful songs, and it's not even a 'greatest' collection. I have now ordered her other two albums and can't wait for them to arrive